CHI@MTL: Postgame
With a loss to the Blackhawks, the Canadiens' winning streak was snapped at two games
by Matt Cudzinowski @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
MONTREAL - The Canadiens fell 4-1 to the Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was tasked with facing Chicago. It was his third start of the season, and his first since January 7.
The 26-year-old Lakeville, MN native arrived at the Bell Centre looking ready to rock.
Captain Shea Weber was up for having a little fun during the pregame warmup.
And Carey Price paid his favorite people a pregame visit, too…
Tears of joy were even shed before the Original Six matchup got underway.
Unfortunately, the Blackhawks struck first.
Zack Smith was the beneficiary of some confusion behind the Canadiens' net at the 5:42 mark of the period.
His short-handed goal put Chicago up 1-0.
Smith struck again 2:50 later to give the Blackhawks a two-goal advantage.
He craftily redirected a Slater Koekkoek feed past Lindgren for his second goal of the night.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes.
The Canadiens cut Chicago's lead in half just 54 seconds into the second period when Phillip Danault solved goaltender Corey Crawford.
Danault converted a perfect feed from Ilya Kovalchuk for his 12th goal of the season.
Tomas Tatar also picked up an assist on the play to reach the 40-point plateau for the fifth time in his career.
Alex DeBrincat restored the Blackhawks' two-goal lead with a power play goal at the 11:27 mark of the frame, though, beating a helpless Lindgren.
Drake Caggiula made it 4-1 for Chicago with 8:20 remaining in regulation time, capitalizing on a turnover by Jordan Weal to break in all alone on Lindgren and light the lamp.
That's the way things finished up.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.